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Interview Skills WorkshopInuvialuit Career Centre

April 2006

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Acing the InterviewAgenda

• When the potential employer calls• Before the interview• A picture is worth 1000 words• Handling the interview• Types of questions• Common concerns & mistakes• After the interview

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You’ve Got an Interview!When They Call…

• Confirm the position• Ask who will be interviewing you• Confirm the time, address, phone number

and a contact name• Ask is there anything you need to bring?• Is any preliminary testing required?

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Remember…

You and the employer are two businesspeople exchanging information to helpone another:

• The EMPLOYER needs an employee to do a job necessary to keep the business running.

• YOU need an employer to hire you and pay you for your work.

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Prepare an Agenda• Outline your qualifications with relevant examples based

on the job advertisement.

• Identify your key strengths and relevancy to job• Gain information which demonstrates your knowledge of

the organization or field.

• Compile a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer.

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A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

• You want the interviewer to remember you, not your outfit

• Dress one step above appropriate on-the-job attire• “Conservative” is the key word for dress, make-

up, jewelry, fragrance, etc.• Do a final check of your appearance before the

interview

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Handling the Interview • Arrive 10 minutes early• Present a professional

appearance• Bring copies of your resume • Bring your references• Bring your employment

portfolio*• Be friendly, pleasant and

business-like

• Follow the interviewer's cues• Listen carefully to all questions• Ask when you may expect to hear about a decision• Have a reliable way they can contact you

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Employment Portfolio

• Educational & employment certification

• Awards• Samples of your best work

– Spreadsheets– Presentations– Programs you developed– Business letters, etc.

• Performance evaluation reports• Recommendation letters

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Body Language

Positive• Firm handshake• Direct eye contact• Open, relaxed

appearance• Firm voice• Appropriate

volume• Sit upright,

lean slightly forward

Negative• Fishy handshake• Lack of eye contact• Bored expression• Inappropriate smiling /laughter• Nervous mannerisms• Too quiet/loud a voice• Cover mouth when speaking• Slumping posture

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Interview Tips• Many employers use predictable questions, so pre-

think strong answers to them• Match your skills to the needs of the job• Acknowledge the facts• Give focused answers• Present your answers as advantages, not

disadvantages

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Five Basic Questionsfrom the EMPLOYER

1. Why are you here?

2. What can you do for us?

3. What kind of person are you?

4. What makes you unique?

5. Can I afford you?

Source: What Color is Your Parachute? Richard N. Bolles, 2002

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Five Basic QuestionsFor YOU

• What does this job involve?• What top skills do I need for this job?• Are these the kinds of people I would like to work with?• How can I persuade them I’m unique?• How can I get hired at the salary I need/want?

Source: What Color is Your Parachute? Richard N. Bolles, 2002

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What Are They Really Asking?“Tell me about yourself…”The interviewer wants to know:“How would you describe yourbackground and how has it prepared you for this job?”

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Traditional Questions

• Closed– “Are you able to start right away?”

• Open– “What are your strengths & weaknesses?”

• Hypothetical– “How would you handle a situation where you have

to report to three supervisors?”

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Behaviour-Based Questions• You may be asked to give concrete examples of

how you responded to specific situations. For example:

– “Give me an example of a time when you…”– “Tell me how you…”

• Give something positive (what you did or what you learned) out of every experience you’re asked to relate, even a negative one.

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S.T.A.R.

Answer a behavioural question with:• Situation –setting/situation?• Target – what needed to be done?• Action – what action did you take?• Result – how did the organization

benefit?Relate the result directly to your action orinvolvement.

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STAR EXAMPLE

Situation: One time, while I was working as a customer service representative a customer was unhappy and complaining loudly that he had received the wrong information over the phone.

Task: I was responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction. I knew it was important to learn the facts and to make a decision about what steps needed to be taken to resolve this issue.

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STAR EXAMPLE continued

Action: I knew I needed to calm him down to resolve the situation quickly. I asked him to explain his side of the story. I felt that by asking his side of the story he might calm down. After listening to him I explained our policy but gave sent him the item he originally ordered.

Result: The customer agreed to my offer and I was able to resolve the situation quickly and to mitigate the potentially negative experience of the other customers.

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Anticipate Behavioural Questions

• Consider situations where you …– Demonstrated leadership- Handled criticism– Solved a problem - Met/missed a deadline– Increased profits - Worked as part of a team– Made a good/poor decision - Handled change

• If the job includes making presentations, expect questions about a speech where you did or did not achieve your goal

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Do You Have Any Questions?

• Do your research and be prepared to ask some good questions about the organization and the position.

• Some examples:– What would a typical day look like?– Do you expect the market in this area to remain

strong?– If you had an ideal candidate, what skills and

personal qualities would that person have?– When do you expect to make a decision?

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Common Mistakes

• Believing you must have this job

• Misunderstanding the purpose of the interviewer’s question

• Not knowing your skills• Demonstrating the wrong

attitude• Projecting an

unprofessional image

• Not communicating effectively• Answering the wrong question• Giving unsolicited or negative information• Appearing indifferent• Discussing salary or benefits too soon

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After the Interview• Replay your interview in your mind –

how could you do better next time?• Obtain name and contact information• Send a brief thank you within 2 days• At the agreed time, call to see if a

decision has been made

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Quyanaq(Thank You)

April 2006